The LPC is a consortium of voluntary organisations looking at new ways of working in Lewisham. The next Consortium meeting is on

Friday 13 January from 1.30-4pm,

with lunch provided at 1.30pm, at the Civic Suite, Catford.

Please spread the word to other groups or organisations you think should be involved. If you wish to attend, or for more information, contact Mark.

In conjunction with the CVS in Southwark, we will be organising a Health and Wellbeing event, “Health and Wellbeing Event – the challenges of health inequalities.”

It's being held at Cambridge House on Camberwell Road, SE5,  on

Friday 10 February, from 10am to 1pm.

The outline of the event is:
10.00 Arrivals
10.15 Presentation by Sir Marmot
11.00 Q & A session and discussions
12.45 Closing summary

Please visit www.valewisham.org.uk for details of other VAL events. 

In conjunction with the CVS in Southwark, we will be organising a Health and Wellbeing event,

“Health and Wellbeing Event – the challenges of health inequalities.”

It's being held at

Cambridge House on Camberwell Road, SE5, on

Friday 10 February, from 10am to 1pm.

The outline of the event is:

10.00 Arrivals 10.15 Presentation by Sir Marmot 11.00 Q & A session and discussions 12.45 Closing summary

There at 20 places reserved for staff and volunteers from Lewisham.

If you wish to book a place, please contact Mark at VAL.

 Health and Social Care Forum

Our next forum will be held on

Wednesday 5 October

at the St Laurence Centre, 37 Bromley Road, SE6 2TS.

  Further details will be posted on our website .

 To book a place, contact  020 8314 9841 or email Mark.

 Community Health and Social Care Forum

The Community Health and Social Care Forum (CHSCF) is a quarterly forum that brings together voluntary and community organisations with an interest in health and social care. The aims of the forum are to:

• Promote good practice, expertise and raise awareness of issues
• Consult with the sector about changes to health and social care services
• Give voluntary organisations the chance to respond to issues with a united voice
• Enable staff from voluntary and statutory agencies to network
• Provide opportunities for collaborative working
• Ensure accountability and openness in planning of services.

What do our members think? One member said of the last forum:

"The event was great on Monday - I have worked in a few boroughs and have never attended such an informative H&SC Forum!"

Details of the previous meeting at www.valewisham.org.uk/content/forum , along with copies of the presentations given, are below. The next forum will be held on October 5. To book a place, contact  020 8314 9841 or email Mark.

Tender Notification

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) Service

NHS Lewisham (PCT) invites expressions of interest from suitable service providers within the voluntary and community services sector wishing to be considered to provide an Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) service in Lewisham.

From 1 April 2009 under provisions introduced by the Mental Health Act 2007, qualifying patients in England will have access to help from an Independent Mental Health Advocate. In line with procurement guidelines, NHS Lewisham is re-tendering for the current IMHA service that will be available to patients in the community, as well as people admitted to Inpatient services at the Ladywell Unit, though qualifying patients will be prioritised.

Working in partnership with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM), the service will be based predominantly at the Ladywell Unit in Lewisham covering a total of 70 inpatient beds, though service provision will also be required in the community where appropriate. The Provider will aim to assist service users with:
•    The provisions of the legislation under which s/he qualifies for an IMHA
•    Any conditions or restrictions s/he is subject to for example any arrangements made for s17 leave
•    The medical treatment being given, proposed or being discussed and the legal authority under which this would be given
•    The requirement that would apply in connection with the giving of the treatment
•    Their rights under the Act and how those rights can be exercised

Within this voluntary sector service, the recruitment of Independent Mental Health Advocate(s) (IMHAs) will be required. The purpose of this role is to deliver the aims of the service specification and is likely to include:

•    Supporting patients in accessing information and better understanding what is happening to them
•    Supporting qualifying patients in exploring options, making better-informed decisions and actively engaging with decisions that are being made
•    Supporting qualifying patients support in articulating their own views
•    Speaking on the patient’s behalf and representing them
•    Supporting patients in other ways to ensure they can participate in the decisions that are made about their care and treatment.

Successful organisations will be expected to work positively with service users and a range of other stakeholders to promote the service.

Those who tender will be selected on the basis of experience, capability, quality and safety standards and financial standing. The initial process will entail a Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire which is to be returned no later than 12:00pm on Monday 10th October 2011.

Only those that successfully meet the qualifying criteria will be invited to tender, and tender packs are anticipated to be sent in late October 2011. Contracts are due to be awarded in December 2011 for the service to start on 1st April 2012.

To request a Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire either in writing or by email, please contact:

Bunmi Adewunmi
Mental Health Commissioning
2nd Floor, Laurence House
Catford,
London
SE6 4RU

E-mail: bunmi.adewunmi@nhs.net
Fax: 020 8314 3351
Telephone: 020 8314 9863

Procurement Event
NHS Lewisham will hold a procurement event on Monday 26th September, from 10:00 –12:00 at the Civic Suite, Lewisham Town Hall, Catford Road, London SE6 4RU. The event aims to present the PCT’s commissioning intentions for the advocacy services alongside the procurement process and timelines.

All organisations considering making a tender submission are strongly encouraged to attend.
To register to attend this event, please contact bunmi.adewunmi@nhs.net

The latest round of funding to support voluntary projects in health and social care has been announced. Applications are invited to the 2012-13 Innovation, Excellence and Strategic Development Fund that supports the voluntary sector in developing innovation across health and social care.

Lewisham's (Shadow) Health and Wellbeing Board

The Government’s Health and Social Care Bill, currently making its way through parliament, will make it a statutory obligation for every local authority area to have a health and wellbeing board. Boards will have responsibility for integrating health and social care, developing a local Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, a joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and ensuring that services are commissioned to meet the needs and priorities identified within these two documents.

Lewisham has convened a Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board. The Board is chaired by Sir Steve Bullock and brings together stakeholders from across health and social care, including representatives from Lewisham’s GP Consortium Pathfinder, Lewisham’s Local Involvement Network (LINk) and Voluntary Action Lewisham.  

The Shadow Board will be responsible for developing Lewisham’s Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and its joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. It will support the development of Lewisham’s GP Consortium Pathfinder and Lewisham’s HealthWatch Pathfinder and help to develop how the partnership will work when Health and Wellbeing Boards become statutory. 

Meetings of the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board are public and everyone is welcome to attend and observe the meeting. Information on the Board will soon be available via the Lewisham Strategic Partnership website - www.lewishamstrategicpartnership.org.uk. In the meantime, papers and dates of future meetings are available on request.